Hot Topics:

Denver and the West

Denver Memorial Day ceremony honors those who sacrificed

By Jordan SteffenThe Denver Post

Posted:
05/25/2013 04:08:48 PM MDT

Updated:
05/25/2013 11:49:40 PM MDT

DENVER, CO - MAY 25: People wave their flags as the parade makes its way down Broadway. The annual City and County of Denver Memorial Day Parade and Tribute winds its way through the streets of downtown honoring the sacrifices of servicemen and women. The parade includes music, drill teams, marching units, floats and vintage and military vehicles. (Photo By Kathryn Scott Osler/The Denver Post) (THE DENVER POST | Kathryn Scott Osler)

The day Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Falkel died serving his country in Afghanistan, his mother's family grew.

Every day, Dianne Falkel thinks of her son's smile. But in the floods of emotions and memories, Falkel knows she can turn to the men who served beside her son, and now stand next to her as family.

"They are all our sons now," Falkel said.

Falkel and her family were one of 50 families that gathered to share in the memories of their loved ones and join together in pride for their heroes. The sharp clang of a gold bell echoed after the reading of each of the names of the servicemen and women recognized at the 14th annual Veterans Memorial Day Tribute, part of this weekend's Memorial Day celebrations.

Families who asked to participate in the ceremony placed flowers next to photos of their loved ones before the ceremony. The photos lined the base of the Colorado Veterans Monument in Lincoln Park.

"Every Memorial Day brings back a lot of memories," said Falkel, who lives in Highlands Ranch. "It's not just a holiday for me anymore."

Christopher Falkel was 22 years old when he was killed in Afghanistan in 2005. Several of the men who served in his unit have since retired, but for members still serving, Dianne Falkel makes sure they know that their families are taken care of while they're gone.

The ceremony recognized servicemen and women who were killed in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War and the war on terror. Men and women killed during expeditions overseas also were recognized.

Most of the 50 families in attendance were remembering loved ones who died while serving in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. More than a dozen families recognized fallen family members for the first time this year.

Letters written by family members were read aloud. Memories of practical jokers, loyal friends and new fathers shed light into the lives of young men with unwavering passion for both their country and family.

But Falkel, who has attended every ceremony since her son's death, said time only appears to separate the day she lost her son and the pain she still feels. "In years it's a long time, but in the memories and the emotions, it's not very long at all," Falkel said.

Standing among families and veterans gives Falkel both comfort and an opportunity to reach out to families who recently lost children, husbands or wives.

But everyone who gathered to remember Saturday asked for only one thing: that the men and women who died serving their country will not become simply memories, but their sacrifices will be appreciated and not forgotten.

Veterans and families lined Broadway in Denver during the Memorial Day Remembrance Parade on Saturday.

People could view photographs of fallen soldiers on display in Lincoln State Park next to the parade route for the Veterans Memorial Day Tribute. The annual City and County of Denver Memorial Day Parade and Tribute winds its way through the streets of downtown Denver honoring the sacrifices of servicemen and women. (Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post)

"It's important that she understand what our men and women go through," Olsberg said.

Wearing her "Army shirt" — a pink and green camouflage T-shirt — Emmajean eagerly pointed to the groups as they marched past. She paused just long enough for her father to explain what the uniformed men and women did for her country.

DENVER, CO - MAY 25: Members of the El Jebel make their way down Broadway. The annual City and County of Denver Memorial Day Parade and Tribute winds its way through the streets of downtown honoring the sacrifices of servicemen and women. The parade includes music, drill teams, marching units, floats and vintage and military vehicles. (Photo By Kathryn Scott Osler/The Denver Post) (THE DENVER POST | Kathryn Scott Osler)

Lockheed says object part of 'sensor technology' testing that ended ThursdayWhat the heck is that thing? It's fair to assume that question was on the minds of many people who traveled along Colo. 128 south of Boulder this week if they happened to catch a glimpse of what appeared to be a large, silver projectile perched alongside the highway and pointed north toward town.

PARIS (AP) — Bye, New York! Ciao, Milan! Bonjour, Paris! The world's largest traveling circus of fashion editors, models, buyers and journalists has descended on the French capital, clutching their metro maps and city guides, to cap the ready-to-wear fashion season. Full Story